Category Archives: Japan

For years, I’d trained in the ancient art of incantations. I’d conquered armies with a conjured tiger fighting at my side. Father entrusted the enchantment of the Imperial Guard’s armor to my care. Yet never had I created an item so powerful as this book.

It terrified me.

That morning, I’d slid the paper doors shut around me, boxing myself in with our family shrine. Heart pounding, mind racing, I fell to me knees on the bamboo matting. The weaved mat dug into my bare shins.

I spoke not, for fear Father would hear my words. If my ancestors truly cared, they’d read the pleas through my tears.

Help me, my heart begged. This sacrifice…I can’t. Show me another way.

I knelt in silence, already knowing my answer. I must finish what I’d started.

Just a couple months ago, I got back from a year-and-a-half stay in Japan. It was an amazing experience, one that I could never sum up in a simple blog post. But I did want share a couple souvenirs I brought home and the stories they hold.

I don’t have a fantasy story for you today sadly, but I did want to say a few words. The last 18 months I’ve let this wonderful invention called a computer auto-post a steady stream of sketches and short stories in hopes they could enrich someone’s day. Just this week I returned to WordPress and Twitter and finally saw the responses to my writing. I’m blown away. Thank you so much for your kind words! A writer is nothing without her readers, and I’m so grateful to have such wonderful people reading my work.

Now for a bit of explanation: I put writing on hold for a 18-month trip to Japan as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Yes, Japan does have paper and ink–and computers as well–but so that I could focus on missionary work I temporarily suspended work as an author. I’m so grateful for my time in Japan. I met many lifelong friends, had the amazing opportunity to learn the Japanese language, and saw God’s all-encompassing love manifest each of those 567 days. Japan taught me lessons that I could learn no other way.

Now that I’m home I will resume writing. I’ll continue posting sketches on this blog and work towards completing my novel. Stay tuned! Thank you again for all the support. Reader-tachi ga daisuki da yo!